Seattle Mariners are in driver’s seat for second wild card
AL Wild Card Race — Second spot (Projected)
- 90-72 Seattle Mariners
- 86-76 Los Angeles Angels
- 81-81 Oakland Athletics
- 79-83 Minnesota Twins
- 78-84 Toronto Blue Jays
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All of that being said, the Mariners are about to play a stretch of 13 games against the big boys. They have two more games in Tampa Bay, then have this stretch of games on their schedule:
- Three vs. Los Angeles Angels (.556)
- Four vs. Boston Red Sox (.672)
- Three @New York Yankees (.695)
- Three @Boston Red Sox (.672)
This two-week stretch of games will show fans how well the Mariners can compete with the top teams in the league.
They don’t need to run off nine or ten wins in this 13-game stretch to prove their mettle, but they can’t tank them either — even going 7-6 or 6-7 wouldn’t be too bad.
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In the end, should the Seattle Mariners win the second wild card, they’ll likely have to face the Yankees or Red Sox in a one-game playoff. If they survive that game, they would likely play either Houston, Cleveland or the other AL East team in the ALDS.
Those possibilities are still many months away. For now, Seattle Mariner fans are hoping they can end their long playoff drought and make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.